University of Reading

Agricology has been awarded a DEFRA ELM Test in partnership with the University of Reading to research how effective videos and podcasts are as tools to learn about farming practices. As part of this study we are conducting a survey for farmers to understand their preferences and experiences of using these tools.

Intercropping offers the potential for more efficient resource utilisation, reducing pest and disease pressure and better competition with weeds. This is a recording of an event co-ordinated by Agricology, Innovative Farmers and the ORC that was held as a virtual alternative to a field lab meeting.

This trial at the University of Reading Crop Research Centre in 2018/19 compared intercrops of beans and triticale to monocrop comparisons in spring and winter sown crops, looking at the impact on weed control, lodging and yield.

Tom Staton discusses the initial indicators that farming with trees could help to boos pollinators and help to control pests

Research indicates that farm-gate phosphorus (P) surpluses are common on UK dairy farms. By reducing these P surpluses and consequently P losses, we could reap the benefits of minimised environmental impact, improved P use efficiency and subsequently reduced feed costs. But how do farmers reduce P losses on dairy farms?

The University of Reading, in collaboration with Harper Adams University, is running a project aiming at investigating the potential to reduce phosphorus losses from dairy farms, with consequent benefits for the environment and reduction of feeding costs.

For hundreds of years we have thought that bees are important for pollinating apples, but is this actually true? I have worked in apple orchards for a number of years now and I rarely see honeybee hives being brought into orchards to do this 'essential' pollination. So the question I ask myself is - what is pollinating all these apples? And do we even need pollinators in modern orchards with high yielding varieties anyway?

This BBSRC-funded video provides important messages to help us target pollinators that will benefit UK crops and help ensure food security.

A podcast focusing on the role of nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria rhizobia in improving legume crop yields and specific research into lucerne.